Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Karlic'

Cheddar Pink, Dianthus caesius, Carnation

Cool-weather annuals, biennials, or perennials, their many fringed flowers look as if they were trimmed with pinking shears, winning them their common name. Sweetly clove-scented flowers have a velvety or satiny sheen. Colors include pink, rose, red, purple and white in pure or bicolor flowers with distinctively marked eyes or frosting. China Pinks (Dianthus chinensis) and Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) are grown as low-growing annuals for edging, mass plantings and in containers. Perennials include single- and double-flowered hybrids. Weak-stemmed Florist Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus), grown outdoors only in mild winter areas, are not the best garden plants. Use Pinks in borders and rock gardens. Smaller types make excellent ground covers, and are good in containers. All make exceptional cut flowers. Most need alkaline soils and cool growing conditions without heat and humidity. Some heat-tolerant varieties are available. In hot summer areas, plant in partial afternoon shade. Cut back or shear after bloom for repeat bloom. Perennials should be restarted frequently by cuttings from disease-free plants in spring or fall, or they die out.